TWO BENEDICTINE MONKS from the Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation, namely Rev. Fr. John Paul Plana, OSB and Rev. Fr. Pedro Ma. D. Cruz, OSB, helped celebrate the daily “fiesta masses” at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene last January 8, on the eve of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, with the theme, Traslacion 2024: “Ibig po naming makita si Hesus – Juan 12:21.”
Traslacion is derived from a Spanish term defined as the “transfer from one place to another.” In local context, this refers to the passage of the image of the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, otherwise known as the Black Nazarene, from the Quirino Grandstand to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, also known as the Quiapo Church.
There was a total of 33 fiesta masses celebrated in honor of the Black Nazarene, starting from the first vigil mass at 3 p.m. on January 8 and ending at 11 p.m. the next day. Ultimately, the travel time of the procession lasted for over 15 hours, following an exceeding mark of more than six million devotees who attended the celebration.
Fr. Cruz led the celebration of the mass at 9 p.m. on January 8. In his homily, Fr. Cruz reminded everyone that a devotee should be known for their “loving kindness and service to others.” Moreover, he added that the people’s devotion should not be limited to Fridays (known as “Quiapo Day” to the devotees) and in processions only, given how “ang pagiging deboto ng mahal na poong Hesus na Nazareno ay dapat nakikita sa pang-araw araw na buhay, sapagkat makikilala na ikaw ay tunay [na] tagasunod ng poong Hesus Nazareno kung paano ka magmahal sa iyong kapwa.”
He was followed by a mass presided by Fr. Plana, who also serves as the University’s Vice President for Administration, at 10 p.m. He spoke about his sentiments on the True Cross to the devotees. In his homily, Fr. Plana described the cross as having a horizontal line—similar to the negative sign used to subtract in mathematics. However, a cross cannot be deemed so when it does not have a vertical line; hence when added, this would turn the cross akin to the plus sign of mathematics. The Benedictine monk then further expounded that when the cross becomes tilted, it will turn into a multiplication sign—indicating that Christ will not just “add” blessings to our life but can also “double or triple” the graces being received.
He added that the true symbol of love isn’t the heart, but the cross: “Hindi lang kung anong klaseng krus, kundi ang krus na pasan-pasan ng mahal na poong Nazareno. Sa krus na iyon makikita ang pagmamahal ng Diyos, sa krus na iyon makikita natin ang pagpapatawad ng Diyos, sa krus na iyon, makikita natin ang ating kaligtasan,” he exclaimed.
Fr. Plana ended his homily noting that only “Christ can change the meaning” of the symbol of the Cross, saying that “from shame, it becomes a symbol of hope, forgiveness of God, and finally a symbol of victory.”
(with Rcee Umali Tenefrancia)